The Energy News Digest

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

The Energy News Digest for December 18, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Power Outages Impact Tens of Thousands of Customers in Western Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/4020717/power-outages-impact-thousands-customers-western-washington/

A Nuclear Fuel Company Promising $4.5 Billion Project & 1,000 Jobs Is Wooing an Eastern WA City (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nuclear-fuel-company-promising-4-234847415.html

Washington Could Rely on Other States for Almost Half Its Energy by 2050 (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e5dea6e0-bbd9-11ef-841c-cf1e746746d8.html

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Lands $15 Billion Federal Loan Guarantee to Expand Clean Energy (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/pg-e-lands-15b-federal-loan-guarantee-to-expand-clean-energy

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Decision in Held, Historic Youth Climate Case (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/12/18/montana-supreme-court-affirms-decision-in-held-historic-youth-climate-case/

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. A Nuclear Fuel Company Promising $4.5 Billion Project & 1,000 Jobs Is Wooing an Eastern WA City

2. Washington Could Rely on Other States for Almost Half Its Energy by 2050

3. NERC: Plant Closures, Surging Demand Pose Risk to Grid Over the Next Decade

4. Oregon: Caps on Utility Rate Hikes May Be Coming in 2025

5. Oregon: $1 Million Awarded to Eugene Water & Electric Board for Wildfire Resiliency Projects

6. Canada: ‘Demand for Power Is at Its Highest:’ Second Generating Unit at Peace River Dam

7. John Bear Thinks Micro Coal Power Plants Could Help Wyoming Coal, Create Power Autonomy

8. Redundant Environmental Review is Unlawful, Misleading, and Jeopardizes Services to Millions

9. DOE Advances Three Potential NIETCs—High-Priority National Electric Transmission Corridors

10. What Is the Shoulder Season in Electricity Markets?

11. California: Pacific Gas & Electric Lands $15 Billion Federal Loan Guarantee to Expand Clean Energy

12. California: One Morro Bay Wind Energy Project Leaseholder to Pause Surveying

13. Oregon: Brooks Incinerator to Close Dec. 31, Sending Salem’s Trash to Coffin Butte Landfill for Now

14. Canada: Cariboo Biomass Energy Plant Still in Limbo Despite British Columbia’s Record Need for Power

15. U.S. Department of Energy Races to Finalize Appliance & Equipment Efficiency Standards in Waning Days of Biden Administration

16. How Heat Pumps Can Maintain Their Momentum in 2025 & Beyond

17. ‘These Fish & These Waters Are Our Responsibility to Defend,’ Inslee Says in Executive Order on Salmon Recovery

18. Public Comment Open on Endangered Status for Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee

19. U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Constitutional Claim in California Air Pollution Case

20. People Who Love an Iconic Oregon River – The Deschutes – Say an Electric Utility Is Harming It

21. Time is Running Out. Will the Pacific Northwest Make Up its Precipitation Deficit?

22. Montana Supreme Court Affirms Decision in Held, Historic Youth Climate Case

23. World’s Largest Iceberg Breaks Free After Months of Spinning in Antarctic

24. UTOPIA completes $17.6 million Fiber to the Home Project in Utah

25. Five WA Native Nations Split $32 Million in Federal Broadband Grants

26. Oklo Inks 12-GW Advanced Reactor Supply Agreement with Data Center Developer Switch

27. Exclusive: Trump Transition Team Plans Sweeping Rollback of Biden Electric Vehicle, Emissions Policies

28. U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to TikTok Ban

29. Elon Musk Tells X Users ‘No Hashtags’ And Guess What Happened Next

30. Fighting the Drought: Transforming News Deserts with Digital Tools

31. The Winter Solstice Is Almost Here, The Northern Hemisphere’s Darkest Day

32. Blast of Energy from Sun Triggers Ongoing Geomagnetic Storm

33. The Last Meteor Shower of the Year Peaks a Few Days Before Christmas

34. Congress Unveils Funding Deal with More Than $100 Billion in Disaster Aid

35. California Gets Federal Waivers for Ban on Gas-Powered Vehicles

36. Power Outages Impact Tens of Thousands of Customers in Western Washington

37. Wind & Rain Causes Power Outages Around Western Oregon

38. These Were the Top Wind Speeds Recorded During Overnight Storm in Western Washington

39. Coffee Prices Are Higher Than Ever. Here’s What It Means for Your Cup

40. Guest Essay: Utah Manufacturing Needs Nuclear Power

41. Afterparty: Frontlining Energy Justice

Word of the Day

Prolix \proh-LICKS\ Adjective – 1: unduly prolonged or drawn out: too long *2: marked by or using an excess of words

Like King Canute commanding the tides to stop surging to the shore, the moderator knew that his admonition to the speaker about brevity was a fruitless effort to stem an expected torrent of prolix prose. “What more can be said about the importance of mineral oil to the health of baby bottoms?” droned the loquacious after-dinner speaker. “What more indeed,” murmured his wife, who surreptitiously glanced at her watch after two hours of oratorical obfuscation.

Energy & Utility Issues

1. A Nuclear Fuel Company Promising $4.5 Billion Project & 1,000 Jobs Is Wooing an Eastern WA City (Tri-City Herald, WA – Via Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nuclear-fuel-company-promising-4-234847415.html

2. Washington Could Rely on Other States for Almost Half Its Energy by 2050 (The Center Square)

https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_e5dea6e0-bbd9-11ef-841c-cf1e746746d8.html

3. NERC: Plant Closures, Surging Demand Pose Risk to Grid Over the Next Decade (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

https://www.electric.coop/nerc-plant-closures-surging-demand-pose-risk-to-grid-over-the-next-decade

4. Oregon: Caps on Utility Rate Hikes May Be Coming in 2025 (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/caps-on-utility-rate-hikes-may-be-coming-in-2025/ar-AA1w0cDF

5. Oregon: $1 Million Awarded to Eugene Water & Electric Board for Wildfire Resiliency Projects (KPIC-TV, Roseburg, OR)

https://kpic.com/news/local/1-million-awarded-to-eweb-for-wildfire-resiliency-projects

6. Canada: ‘Demand for Power Is at Its Highest:’ Second Generating Unit at Peace River Dam (Site C) Now Operational (CJDC-TV, Dawson Creek, BC)

https://www.cjdctv.com/demand-for-power-is-at-its-highest-second-generating-unit-at-site-c-dam-now-operational-1.7148642

7. John Bear Thinks Micro Coal Power Plants Could Help Wyoming Coal, Create Power Autonomy (Cowboy State Daily)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/12/17/john-bear-thinks-micro-plants-could-help-wyoming-coal-create-power-autonomy/

8. Redundant Environmental Review is Unlawful, Misleading, and Jeopardizes Services to Millions (Northwest RiverPartners, Vancouver, WA)

https://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2024/12/redundant-environmental-review-is.html

9. DOE Advances Three Potential NIETCs—High-Priority National Electric Transmission Corridors (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/doe-advances-three-potential-nietcs-high-priority-national-electric-transmission-corridors/

10. What Is the Shoulder Season in Electricity Markets? (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64044

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

11. California: Pacific Gas & Electric Lands $15 Billion Federal Loan Guarantee to Expand Clean Energy (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/pg-e-lands-15b-federal-loan-guarantee-to-expand-clean-energy

12. California: One Morro Bay Wind Energy Project Leaseholder to Pause Surveying (KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA)

https://www.ksby.com/morro-bay/one-morro-bay-wind-energy-project-leaseholder-to-pause-surveying

13. Oregon: Brooks Incinerator to Close Dec. 31, Sending Salem’s Trash to Coffin Butte Landfill for Now (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/12/brooks-incinerator-to-close-dec-31-sending-salems-trash-to-coffin-butte-landfill-for-now.html

14. Canada: Cariboo Biomass Energy Plant Still in Limbo Despite British Columbia’s Record Need for Power (Vanderhoof Omineca Express, BC)

https://www.ominecaexpress.com/news/cariboo-energy-plant-still-in-limbo-despite-bcs-record-need-for-power-7710744

Conservation & Efficiency

15. U.S. Department of Energy Races to Finalize Appliance & Equipment Efficiency Standards in Waning Days of Biden Administration (National Law Review)

https://natlawreview.com/article/us-department-energy-races-finalize-appliance-and-equipment-efficiency-standards

16. How Heat Pumps Can Maintain Their Momentum in 2025 & Beyond (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/heat-pumps/how-heat-pumps-can-maintain-their-momentum-in-2025-and-beyond

Fish & Wildlife

17. ‘These Fish & These Waters Are Our Responsibility to Defend,’ Inslee Says in Executive Order on Salmon Recovery (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/dec/18/these-fish-and-these-waters-are-our-responsibility-to-defend-inslee-says-in-executive-order-on-salmon-recovery/

18. Public Comment Open on Endangered Status for Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/public-comment-open-endangered-status-suckleys-cuckoo-bumble-bee/4XCVDPZSZNAGZBGW3JJRRC7GHI/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

19. U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Constitutional Claim in California Air Pollution Case (Los Angeles Times, CA – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-dismisses-constitutional-claim-165825365.html

20. People Who Love an Iconic Oregon River – The Deschutes – Say an Electric Utility Is Harming It (Willamette Week, OR)

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/12/18/people-who-love-an-iconic-oregon-river-say-an-electric-utility-is-harming-it/?utm_medium=email

Water, Water, Anywhere?

21. Time is Running Out. Will the Pacific Northwest Make Up its Precipitation Deficit? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2024/12/time-is-running-out-will-northwest-make.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

22. Montana Supreme Court Affirms Decision in Held, Historic Youth Climate Case (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2024/12/18/montana-supreme-court-affirms-decision-in-held-historic-youth-climate-case/

23. World’s Largest Iceberg Breaks Free After Months of Spinning In Antarctic (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/worlds-largest-iceberg-breaks-free-172020103.html

London Calling –Telecommunications

24. UTOPIA completes $17.6 million Fiber to the Home Project in Utah (Broadband Communities Magazine)

https://bbcmag.com/utopia-completes-17-6-million-ftth-project-in-utah/

25. Five WA Native Nations Split $32 Million in Federal Broadband Grants (Cascade PBS)

https://www.cascadepbs.org/briefs/2024/12/five-wa-native-nations-split-32m-federal-broadband-grants

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

26. Oklo Inks 12-GW Advanced Reactor Supply Agreement with Data Center Developer Switch (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/oklo-aurora-smr-advanced-nuclear-reactor-supply-agreement-data-center-developer-switch/735933/

I Sing the Car Electric

27. Exclusive: Trump Transition Team Plans Sweeping Rollback of Biden Electric Vehicle, Emissions Policies (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/trump-transition-team-plans-sweeping-rollback-biden-ev-emissions-policies-2024-12-16/

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

28. U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to TikTok Ban (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/supreme-court-will-hear-challenge-to-tiktok-ban/

29. Elon Musk Tells X Users ‘No Hashtags’ And Guess What Happened Next (MSN News)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/elon-musk-tells-x-users-no-hashtags-and-guess-what-happened-next/ar-AA1w3kKf

30. Fighting the Drought: Transforming News Deserts with Digital Tools (Powerful Web)

https://www.powerfulweb.com/utility-voice/fighting-the-drought-transforming-news-deserts-with-digital-tools/

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

31. The Winter Solstice Is Almost Here, The Northern Hemisphere’s Darkest Day (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/winter-solstice-summer-equinox-sunlight-c73202b7e55b31b2cd832a35f839cfcb

32. Blast of Energy from Sun Triggers Ongoing Geomagnetic Storm (AOL News)

https://www.aol.com/blast-energy-sun-triggers-ongoing-205114868.html

33. The Last Meteor Shower of the Year Peaks a Few Days Before Christmas (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/12/18/the-last-meteor-shower-of-the-year-peaks-a-few-days-before-christmas/

Politics, Governance, and Management

34. Congress Unveils Funding Deal with More Than $100 Billion in Disaster Aid (Associated Press)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/congress-nears-funding-deal-more-175210974.html

35. California Gets Federal Waivers for Ban on Gas-Powered Vehicles (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-gets-federal-waivers-for-ban-on-gas-powered-vehicles/

Other Things to Know About Today

36. Power Outages Impact Tens of Thousands of Customers in Western Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/4020717/power-outages-impact-thousands-customers-western-washington/

37. Wind & Rain Causes Power Outages Around Western Oregon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/weather/power-outages-oregon-coast-valley-rain-wind/283-d2cb2ba5-4deb-4819-9f62-07ebfdbc19b2

38. These Were the Top Wind Speeds Recorded During Overnight Storm in Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/weather/weather-impact/top-wind-speeds-overnight-storm-western-washington/281-7ecc6017-2fb4-4745-b70c-437d4a04f3a6

39. Coffee Prices Are Higher Than Ever. Here’s What It Means for Your Cup (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/17/nx-s1-5228008/coffee-prices-brazil-drought-weather

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

40. Guest Essay: Utah Manufacturing Needs Nuclear Power (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/12/13/utah-manufacturing-needs-nuclear-power/

41. Afterparty: Frontlining Energy Justice (Public Power Underground)

https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/p/afterparty-frontlining-energy-justice

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

NASA’s Two Stuck Astronauts Face More Time in Space with Return Delayed Until at Least Late March

https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-77e8f0b988e483a793732297cd868490

Connecticut Firefighters Rescue Dog That Swam Out to Sea

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/12/18/Dan-Cosgrove-Animal-Shelter-dog-ocean-Branford-Connecticut/8931734538649/

106-Year-Old Woman Stays Young with Positivity, Fireball Whiskey

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/12/17/Fireball-Flo-106th-birthday-Loveland-Ohio/6691734470792/

Lost Lunchbox Found at Virginia School After 42 Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/12/17/lunchbox-found-40-years-Roanoke-Virginia/8221734454923/

Song of the Day

Henry Gross – Shannon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Wpn3dFrEs&t=4s

Links & Paywall Advisory

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Although I choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription, individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regularly clearing your browser’s history and cookie files may help you access some paywall sites.

Monday, December 16, 2024

The Energy News Digest for December 16, 2024

The Northwest Public Power Association sponsors the Energy News Digest.

The News Digest on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter) will bring breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

Items of Note from the Northwest Public Power Association

NWPPA Presents: Wildfires – What Utilities Need to Know – January 28, 202, Portland, OR.

Join wildfire experts, policymakers, utility leaders, and emergency responders to gain insights and strategies for addressing the multifaceted challenges wildfires pose to utilities in the West.

Hotshots – Today’s Top Five Stories

Ontario Premier Says U.S. Energy Exports – Including Electricity – Will Be Cut Off If Trump Imposes Sweeping Tariffs on Canada (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/canada-interest-rate-cut-trump-tariffs-c0ef920ffb02ea0531c93516abad64e0

Soaring Data Center Electricity Demand Could Trigger Northwest Blackouts, Industry Insiders Say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2024/12/soaring-data-center-electricity-demand-could-trigger-northwest-blackouts-industry-insiders-say.html

Stopgap Columbia River Treaty Update Leaves U.S. Flush with Electricity, in Trickier Flood Management Position (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/dec/14/stopgap-columbia-river-treaty-update-leaves-u-s-flush-with-electricity-in-trickier-flood-management-position/

Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Opponents Consider Waiting for Trump to Take Office Before Filing Lawsuit (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/lava-ridge-opponents-consider-waiting-for-trump-to-take-office-before-filing-lawsuit/article_31bb495e-b82b-11ef-9ac8-d3c02cb9d659.html

Officials Fall Short of Salmon Return Goals in Columbia River Basin but See Signs of Progress (Washington State Standard – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/officials-fall-short-salmon-return-223020878.html

News Highlights (See Stories Below)

1. Soaring Data Center Electricity Demand Could Trigger Northwest Blackouts, Industry Insiders Say

2. Stopgap Columbia River Treaty Update Leaves U.S. Flush with Electricity, in Trickier Flood Management Position

3. Bonneville Power Administration Undertakes Major Changes to Double Transmission Asset Investments

4. Midwest Grid Signs Off on Record $21 Billion Transmission ‘Backbone’

5. As Demand for Electricity Soars, a Key Part of the Power Grid – Transformers - Is in Short Supply

6. Hundreds of New Gas-Fired Power Units Planned as U.S. Gas Output Soars

7. Alaska: Anchorage Officials Say Advocacy & Energy Consumption Are Ways City Can Address Looming Natural Gas Shortage

8. Critics Say Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Produces Too Much Power at Too High a Price

9. Don’t Bet on the Weather: The Role Hydropower Plays in Balancing the Grid During Extreme Circumstances

10. Video: Washington to Washington: Clean Energy -- Part One

11. How Public Power Compares to Other Electric Utilities

12. Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Opponents Consider Waiting for Trump to Take Office Before Filing Lawsuit

13. New Mexico: Proposed Solar Project in Sandoval County Faces Backlash

14. Okanogan Electric Co-op Taps Oregon Solar Grid

15. U.S. Sees a 22% Drop in Land Available for Solar Sites

16. U.S. Energy Storage Deployments Hit Record 3.8 GW In Q3, Led by Texas, California: Report

17. Officials Fall Short of Salmon Return Goals in Columbia River Basin but See Signs of Progress

18. Ocean Heat Wave Known as 'The Blob' Blamed for Killing Half the Population of Bird Species

19. Draft Report Calls Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission ‘Dysfunctional’

20. EPA Adds Upper Columbia River Site to National Superfund List

21. California Water Agency Votes to Spend $141 Million on Delta Tunnel Project

22. With Repeal Measure Rejected, WA Carbon Auction Prices Surge

23. WA’s Top Climate Polluters Hand in Emission Allowances – Except One

24. Washington’s Voter-Approved Natural Gas Measure Snared in Two Lawsuits

25. Proposed Rule Requires Utilities to Find & Fix More Climate-Warming Leaks

26. Exxon Mobil to Sell Electricity to Data Centers, NY Times Reports

27. Bitcoin Rallies Past $107,000, Hopes Grow for Strategic Reserve

28. Bitcoin Mining Is One of the Suspected Causes of the Power Outages Disrupting Life in Iran

29. Electric Vehicles Leap to Almost 9% of U.S. Light Duty Vehicle Sales in Q3: EIA

30. Oregon to Follow California's Lead to Reduce Gas-Powered Trucks on the Roads

31. New Proposal Could Have Electric Vehicle Drivers in Washington Volunteer to Pay per Mile

32. What Happened to the Yahoo Homepage? Users Baffled by Unwanted "Helpful" Changes

33. Will Your Weather Forecasts Soon Be Done without Humans?

34. Ontario Premier Says U.S. Energy Exports – Including Electricity – Will Be Cut Off If Trump Imposes Sweeping Tariffs on Canada

35. ‘Bridge or Two Too Far’: Top Congressional Dem Throws Cold Water on Permitting

36. Oregon Winter Storm Warning: Up to 20 Inches of Snow Forecast for Cascade Passes

37. Oregon Isn’t Paying Its Wildfire Bills on Time. Now Legislators Must Act

38. What We Know About Mysterious Drone Sightings

39. Guest Essay: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Plans Aim to Support Growing Tri-Cities’ Economy

Word of the Day

Foment \FOE-ment\ Verb - To promote the growth or development of, rouse, incite.

Alfred knew before even sitting down at his drawing board that his new plan for reorganizing the Tiddlywinks professional circuit would foment his frothing fans to a frenzy. “Moving the Schenectady, New York franchise to a conference including Poughkeepsie? Regional, competitive integrity my foot,” he mused, smoke from his smoldering cigarette curling into the green glass shade of his desk lamp. “I just want to avoid that twice-annual trip to Rochester, especially in the winter.”

Energy & Utility Issues

1. Soaring Data Center Electricity Demand Could Trigger Northwest Blackouts, Industry Insiders Say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2024/12/soaring-data-center-electricity-demand-could-trigger-northwest-blackouts-industry-insiders-say.html

2. Stopgap Columbia River Treaty Update Leaves U.S. Flush with Electricity, in Trickier Flood Management Position (Vancouver Columbian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/dec/14/stopgap-columbia-river-treaty-update-leaves-u-s-flush-with-electricity-in-trickier-flood-management-position/

3. Bonneville Power Administration Undertakes Major Changes to Double Transmission Asset Investments (Bonneville Power Administration)

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/20241212-bpa-undertakes-major-changes-to-double-tx-asset-investments

4. Midwest Grid Signs Off on Record $21 Billion Transmission ‘Backbone’ (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/midwest-grid-signs-off-on-record-21b-transmission-backbone/

5. As Demand for Electricity Soars, a Key Part of the Power Grid – Transformers - Is in Short Supply (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/as-demand-for-electricity-soars-a-key-part-of-the-power-grid-is-in-short-supply-2000538517

6. Hundreds of New Gas-Fired Power Units Planned as U.S. Gas Output Soars (Power Magazine)

https://www.powermag.com/hundreds-of-new-gas-fired-power-units-planned-as-u-s-gas-output-soars/

7. Alaska: Anchorage Officials Say Advocacy & Energy Consumption Are Ways City Can Address Looming Natural Gas Shortage (Alaska Public Media)

https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2024-12-13/anchorage-officials-say-advocacy-and-energy-consumption-are-ways-city-can-address-looming-natural-gas-shortage

8. Critics Say Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Produces Too Much Power at Too High a Price (KPBS Broadcasting, San Diego, CA)

https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2024/12/11/diablo-canyon-nuclear-plant-produces-too-much-power-too-expensive

9. Don’t Bet on the Weather: The Role Hydropower Plays in Balancing the Grid During Extreme Circumstances (U.S. Army)

https://www.army.mil/article/282004/dont_bet_on_the_weather_the_role_hydropower_plays_in_balancing_the_grid_during_extreme_circumstances

10. Video: Washington to Washington: Clean Energy -- Part One (TV Washington)

https://tvw.org/video/washington-to-washington-clean-energy-part-one-2024121150/

11. How Public Power Compares to Other Electric Utilities (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/how-public-power-compares-other-electric-utilities

Renewable Energy & Self Storage

12. Idaho: Lava Ridge Wind Farm Opponents Consider Waiting for Trump to Take Office Before Filing Lawsuit (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

https://magicvalley.com/lava-ridge-opponents-consider-waiting-for-trump-to-take-office-before-filing-lawsuit/article_31bb495e-b82b-11ef-9ac8-d3c02cb9d659.html

13. New Mexico: Proposed Solar Project in Sandoval County Faces Backlash (KRQU-TV, Albuquerque, NM)

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/proposed-solar-project-in-sandoval-county-faces-backlash/

14. Okanogan Electric Co-op Taps Oregon Solar Grid (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/12/12/electric-co-op-taps-oregon-solar-grid/

15. U.S. Sees a 22% Drop in Land Available for Solar Sites (PV Magazine)

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/12/10/u-s-sees-a-22-drop-in-land-available-for-solar-sites/

16. U.S. Energy Storage Deployments Hit Record 3.8 GW In Q3, Led by Texas, California: Report (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-california-energy-storage-woodmac-acp-report/735490/

Fish & Wildlife

17. Officials Fall Short of Salmon Return Goals in Columbia River Basin but See Signs of Progress (Washington State Standard – Via Yahoo!)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/officials-fall-short-salmon-return-223020878.html

18. Ocean Heat Wave Known as 'The Blob' Blamed for Killing Half the Population of Bird Species (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/ocean-heat-wave-known-the-blob-blamed-killing-half-population-bird-species

19. Draft Report Calls Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission ‘Dysfunctional’ (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/12/draft-report-calls-washington-fish-and-wildlife-co/

Environmental Afflatus – Clean Up on Aisle Three

20. EPA Adds Upper Columbia River Site to National Superfund List (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

https://www.kxly.com/news/health/epa-adds-upper-columbia-river-site-to-national-superfund-list/article_d90c4f2c-b97b-11ef-a4ba-fb143382f6df.html

Water, Water, Anywhere?

21. California Water Agency Votes to Spend $141 Million on Delta Tunnel Project (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-water-agency-votes-spend-225817995.html

Climate Change Sequestration Vault

22. With Repeal Measure Rejected, WA Carbon Auction Prices Surge (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/12/11/with-repeal-measure-rejected-wa-carbon-auction-prices-surge/

23. WA’s Top Climate Polluters Hand in Emission Allowances – Except One (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/dec/15/was-top-climate-polluters-hand-in-emission-allowan/

24. Washington’s Voter-Approved Natural Gas Measure Snared in Two Lawsuits (Washington State Standard)

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/12/11/washingtons-voter-approved-natural-gas-measure-snared-in-two-lawsuits/

25. Proposed Rule Requires Utilities to Find & Fix More Climate-Warming Leaks (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/13/nx-s1-5111806/proposed-rule-requires-utilities-to-find-and-fix-more-climate-warming-leaks

The Wizarding World of Technology & Cybersecurity

26. Exxon Mobil to Sell Electricity to Data Centers, NY Times Reports (Yahoo! News)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exxon-mobil-sell-electricity-data-122058091.html

27. Bitcoin Rallies Past $107,000, Hopes Grow for Strategic Reserve (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/bitcoin-powers-above-105000-first-time-2024-12-15/

28. Bitcoin Mining Is One of the Suspected Causes of the Power Outages Disrupting Life in Iran (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/iran-blackouts-bitcoin-sanctions-nuclear-program-9ff962e2bc7931e4f4dca79407316df3

I Sing the Car Electric

29. Electric Vehicles Leap to Almost 9% of U.S. Light Duty Vehicle Sales in Q3: EIA (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-electric-vehicle-sales-leap-to-almost-9-in-q3-record-EIA/735197/

30. Oregon to Follow California's Lead to Reduce Gas-Powered Trucks on the Roads (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-reduce-gas-powered-trucks-advanced-clean-truck-regulation/283-8abbb0c3-11e4-4568-b0e3-4837c69e419d

31. New Proposal Could Have Electric Vehicle Drivers in Washington Volunteer to Pay per Mile (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/ev-drivers-could-volunteer-pay-per-mile-under-proposal-washington/281-8eededc0-ccb3-4aaa-8fb7-ddd3b0f12c04

Public Relations, Marketing & Media

32. What Happened to the Yahoo Homepage? Users Baffled by Unwanted "Helpful" Changes (Distractify)

https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-my-yahoo-homepage

Barrel O’ Green Potpourri – Seething Stew of Science

33. Will Your Weather Forecasts Soon Be Done without Humans? (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/4018951/will-your-weather-forecasts-soon-be-done-without-humans/

Politics, Governance, and Management

34. Ontario Premier Says U.S. Energy Exports – Including Electricity – Will Be Cut Off If Trump Imposes Sweeping Tariffs on Canada (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/canada-interest-rate-cut-trump-tariffs-c0ef920ffb02ea0531c93516abad64e0

35. ‘Bridge or Two Too Far’: Top Congressional Dem Throws Cold Water on Permitting (E&E News)

https://www.eenews.net/articles/bridge-or-two-too-far-top-dem-throws-cold-water-on-permitting/

Other Things to Know About Today

36. Oregon Winter Storm Warning: Up to 20 Inches of Snow Forecast for Cascade Passes (Yahoo! News)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/winter-storm-warning-issued-oregon-223646610.html

37. Oregon Isn’t Paying Its Wildfire Bills on Time. Now Legislators Must Act (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/12/12/oregon-record-wildfire-season-state-legislature-meets-pay-bills/

38. What We Know About Mysterious Drone Sightings (Cable News Network)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/15/us/drone-sightings-east-coast/index.html

Soapbox Serenade – Vox Populi

39. Guest Essay: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Plans Aim to Support Growing Tri-Cities’ Economy (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, WA)

https://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/articles/hairston-2024

Diversions - Alligators in the Sewer

Detroit-Area Library Says Chicago Man Can Keep Overdue Baseball Book -- 50 Years Later

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-library-overdue-book-86747a3d68c0524273f2ff690bf3df7d

‘What Did I Find?’: Woman Buys VCR at Goodwill, Finds Family’s 1980s Christmas Tape Still Inside

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/14/what-did-i-find-woman-buys-vcr-goodwill-finds-familys-1980s-christmas-tape-still-inside/

Canadian Man Wins Microsoft Excel World Championships In Las Vegas

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/12/11/Microsoft-Excel-World-Championships/5121733939976/

Engagement Photo Shoot Interrupted by Ring Falling into Sewer

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/12/10/engagement-ring-sewer-Cleveland/5411733857100/

Song of the Day

The Fifth Dimension – Wedding Bell Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1CI90O_ec